Before joining the Firm, Mr. de la Fuente handled various positions at the Department of Labor and Employment of the government. Notably, he headed the Labor Regulations Division of the National Capital Region, which is responsible for the enforcement of labor standards laws as well as health and safety regulations covering employees within the Metro Manila area. He was also involved in the formulation and drafting of labor legislation pertaining to, among others, the 13th Month Pay Law, minimum wage and emergency cost of living allowance.
Mr. de la Fuente’s specialized field of practice covers, among others, employee discipline cases, money claims, collective bargaining mostly in banks and educational institutions, strikes and lockouts, petitions for certification election of unions seeking recognition as bargaining representative, unfair labor practice cases, grievance handling and dispute resolution through voluntary or compulsory arbitration, outsourcing of functions/services, labor aspect of mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs, assistance in the design and implementation of manpower rightsizing programs, cessation of business operations, review of employee manuals/codes of discipline, legal audit of company policies, terms and conditions of employment and contracting arrangements and conduct of seminars on labor and employment law and practices.

Education/Academic Attainments:

Mr. de la Fuente obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from San Beda College and his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1975 and has continuously been in labor practice.

Professional Membership & Affiliations:

Mr. de la Fuente is an active member of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, People Management Association of the Philippines (formerly Chair of its Labor Relations Committee), Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Philippine Bar Association. While in the University of the Philippines, he was Head of the Scintilla Juris Fraternity.

AWARDS AND CITATIONS:

Mr. de la Fuente has been consistently cited in the Asia Pacific Legal 500 publications as among the leading individuals in employment law practice. He has also been cited in Chambers Asia (Asia’s Leading Lawyers for Business) publications as a Senior Statesman who “applies his extensive knowledge base to achieve the best outcome for his clients”.